I've been lurking for a few weeks since the TI first caught my eye to get all the information I can prior to making a purchase. The boat itself doesn't cause me any confusion, but the trailer is proving to be a different matter.

My nearest dealer says he has never sold a trailer and for me to call Trailex direct. I called Trailex and was told that the SUT 200-S is not what I want, that they make a trailer specifically for Hobie and that they can't sell it directly to me, that I must purchase through a Hobie dealer.

I move on to the next closest dealer.... he has an AI sitting out front on a SUT 200-S exactly as pictured on Trailex's web site, complete with dents in the hull from sitting on the standard SUT 200-S pads, rather than the Hobie cradles for an AI. Not impressed, so I move on again.

Third dealer away from me... has never sold a trailer so needless to say is clueless about them.

Fourth dealer away.... this is not a bicyle shop or pellet stove store, but an actual dedicated marine product dealer, and is on the water no less! Problem is he wants $1500 for the trailer. The Hobie/Trailex trailer with Hobie cradles, including shipping, is $1,168.95 from Austin Kayak. I realize he wants money for assembling the trailer, but over $330 for said assembly seems rather steep to me. IIRC correctly, he also said I would have to pay $45 for a temp tag to get it home, which I wouldn't have to do if I order from ACK making it over $375 more expensive.

If I purchase the Hobie Single Kayak Trailer, with the Hobie Cradle Set for a Tandem Island from ACK, what else do I need to actually use this trailer?

I am going to see dealer #4 tomorrow and would like to be armed with this answer so I can make an informed decision on whether or not to pay his price, or to order from ACK. What options/mods/accessories might he be including causing his price to be higher?

ACK is apparently not charging you for the inbound freight costs or cost of freight to you which is substantial... so the actual cost of labor to assemble is less than the total difference in costs shown.

Have you tried Chessie Marine, just south of Elkton, MD? We bought our TI there in the spring, and they ordered and assembled the Trailex with the Hobie cradles, for the catalog parts prices plus a minimal shipping cost. There is also a Sunoco station nearby that will balance the 8" wheels -- essential if you are planning any high speed trailering. We took ours to south Florida in March without any problems.

To respond more directly to your question, one thing you will want to add to the Trailex [or probably to any TI trailer], is a pair of plow-end wands so you can see where your boat is when you look behind you.

Florida, however, requires the registration of non-auxiliary-powered sailboats that are more than 16' in length, and I've seen mention of being the subject of enforcement of this provision posted somewhere on this forum by a Florida TI sailor. Florida does honor out-of-state vessel registration if one is visiting. Alternatively, one must register the boat in Florida.

Since we travel back & forth between Delaware & Florida, registering the Hobie in Delaware is the less costly option for us.

I have the double with accessory tower, which I use to tell where the trailer is when I back up. My boat and trailer are both registered. Check your local laws. Oh and by chance aux Coast Guard were doing boat inspections, so now I have a boat safety sticker.

I am a new owner of a TI and Trailex and went through some of the same questions/learning process. I ended up buying the trailer and cradles from the dealer but I picked it up from them and did the asssembly.

I ended up buying a spare 8" tire from a local "Northern Tool" shop and modded a standard bracket to carry it. From Trailex I bought an additional roller thingy for the back to avoid any nasty scrapage if the boat comes off or on at sharp anlges. Also got some "bearing buddies" from Trailex because I wanted to make sure these tiny tires didn't lose lube and overheat. Oh yeah, and I got a fiberglass reflective pole (meant for driveways?) to see the trailer when my boat was off. Only need one really since you know how wide the trailer is and what side the marker is on.

... not trying to be a smartypaints but as someone who trailers heavy (6-7000#) please look for a speed rating on your trailer tires. Heat is what kills the tires and heat buildup (along with improper/under inflation) is proportional to speed.

To answer my own question from my original post, if one purchases the Hobie Single Kayak Trailer and the Hobie Cradle Set for a Tandem Island, the only other "must have" to transport your boat is tie down straps.

After much thought on the matter, I opted to follow sun E sailor's lead and purchased a SUT-350-S from Trailex and have set it up using his trailer as a guide (AS SEEN HERE). I haven't made it to the mast carrier yet, but that is next on the drawing board after I get a boat to hold this trailer down.

I did use a different tie down system - I used 1/4 X 4" stainless eyebolts on the crossbars and am using THESE as an interface between my tie down straps and the eye bolts.

Thanks again for all the help s E s!

Thanks also go out to bluehen for turning me on to Chessie Marine - I'm picking up my new boat from them Friday morning

I am a Florida TI owner and was specifically told by the DMV and dealer that the TI does not require registration as it is considered a kayak and not a sailboat. Seems like we have a grey area here. Anyone else have input?